Willow plantation

Some years ago i started a willow patch in a wet zone in a farmers field.
It didn't cost money just time.
The trees i planted them in rows.
The most robust kind on the northern outside as a distraction against deer eating the willow as medicine/food. And it fumctions a swell as something like a windbreak/suntrap for the less strong ones on the south.
I had trouble with brambles a swell until i noticed less deer traces where it grew.
I want it low maintenance so am not fighting the brambles i decided to try a different approach. I wantto see if i can get them to grow a high wide stem and then on top diverge in many directions. Of the one that is more robust i'm pretty sure that will work out. Then the deer can't reach and i can just come in autumn and cut the one year old branches.
Whatever happens on lower levels is less concerning.

I asked a lady who makes baskets. She said that i'm doing 'the English method'.
I don't know if that's really a thing, i just don't want plastic mulching or even carpets some 'bio' willow farmers throw down.
Here are some pictures.

Ha, brambles doubling as deer deterrent is a good accident. Putting the toughest ones on the north edge as the sacrificial row makes sense too. Did the deer still nibble those or leave them alone once they got going?

The deer rip all of them, my plan failed, but the willows seem to be  used to abuse, so they prevail, despite me having thoughts about how things should be. I did  notice that  the thicker the stems get the more they leave them be.